The red king crab fishery is currently the largest value single species fishery in Norton Sound.  Our goal is to maintain the current strength of this fishery to ensure its future viability.  Currently, very little research is being done on red king crab.  NSEDC has supported and supplemented the triennial crab trawl surveys performed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).  We also continue to investigate supplemental fisheries such as cod, blue king crab, opilio crab and halibut.

As the timing of spring ice melt has changed over the last decade, the crab fishery has extended into Eastern Norton Sound.  Is the crab population in Eastern Norton Sound a separate population?  Is there a lot of movement of red king crab between the East and West?  Should red king crab in Norton Sound be managed as a single stock (as they now are)?  NSEDC is studying the population in Eastern Norton Sound by means of a tagging survey.  As part of the survey, we are collecting biological data on red king crab and tagging them; tagging the crab gives us valuable information on movement and migration.  The data collected will also supplement the management model used to derive the annual crab quota.

For more information contact:

Charlie Lean
NSFR&D Director

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